1,000 GIFTS, #216 to #230

July 26, 2011 12:16 AM 4
Although I’ve never met Ann Voskamp, her heart for Jesus shines through cyberspace – her blog, her books, her tweets…and she blesses me. This discipline or holy habit or awareness, or whatever you name it…this way of counting grace gifts to one-thousand is a wonder! The consciousness of intentionally seeing God at work all around is uplifting. Some of the gifts are divine and spiritual, some are tangible “things,” some are His glorious creation seen around the farm, some are just in my heart, but ALL are from His Hand, Grace.
216. Singing “I Bless Your Name” at church with our praise team. I love singing with Melissa, Meredith, Tammy, Megan, Gary, Lou, and Gary R.  God is knitting our hearts together more each time we sing.
217. A heart that is healing, sweet victory, answered prayers, awareness of true friends, health, peace of mind – these have been mine in abundance the past few weeks.  I am so thankful.
218. Our long-time pastor, Rev. Rastus Salter always talked about how good the “late peaches” are, the Elberta peaches. He was right – they are the best.  He passed away in 2005 and is certainly enjoying the fruit of his labors. In the presence of Jesus!
219. An impromptu pizza party with my husband, our boys, their wives and our 3 grandchildren. Sometimes unplanned is more fun.  Just “y’all come,” and let’s get together.  And when it ends up that Zeke spends the night, well that is just icing on that sweet cake!
220. Could she be any cuter? This is sweet Miss Madie with her first pigtails. She is talking up a storm and holding her own with big brother Zeke.  She and cousin Jackson are precious to watch together.

221. Front porch rocking chairs, hummingbirds zooming by, and long talks with my sweet husband.  We always say to each other, “it just doesn’t get any better.”  I pray we will be blessed to grow old together (Gran Jan & Pop pillows were made by our daughter-in-law Erin!) I love that man. I love to hear people speak of his integrity… and I’ve heard that spoken often these past months, and it blesses me every time!

 

222. Fig preserves. Delightfully Southern.  One of my Dad’s sisters (he had eight) taught me how to make them.  Aunt Jimmie Lou.  Even her double name is delightfully Southern! There is nothing better on a hot buttered biscuit than fig preserves.

223. My moonflower vine has blooms. I can’t wait to share the first flowers with you.  One of my favorite authors, Jan Karon, has a book entitled The Trellis and the Seed that is about encouragement…using these wonderful flowers. I grow them from seed each spring and give away all but a few plants to enjoy for myself.
224. I finished the quilt top from the beautiful jelly roll* of batik fabrics.  I can’t wait to quilt it. *By the way, a “jelly roll” is an entire fabric collection that has been laser cut into 2 and 1/2″ strips, then rolled up like a bakery confection and tied with a bow.  Each pack contains one 44″ long strip of each fabric in the group. I LOVE THEM! The possibilities are endless.
225. Which leads to this…the next quilts I’m planning! I bought a lot of John Deere fabric to make quilts for the boys – the big boys and the little boys!
226. New life on the farm just today – this Monday.  A new calf, and three new lambs – one a set of twins…this wee one is but hours old.
227. Twins – the momma is black and white like this baby.  These are just a few hours old…
228. Hearing the reports from the mission teams that went to Brazil and to Ukraine from my church. Seeing people I know and love light up and come alive when others are won to Christ – of seeing them “love to tell the story.”
229. A letter from my Compassion child, a daughter in Uganda. We wept. I am so thankful to partner with Compassion International to sponsor a boy in Colombia, and a girl in Uganda. I so love this ministry.
230. My magnolias are blooming again. I have two trees – they were given to  me by the women of our church at the Women’s Ministry Christmas Brunch, 2007.  I love that!
Blessings to you on this summer Monday,
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July 26, 2011 12:16 AM 4

What If Your Blessings Come Through Raindrops?

July 17, 2011 1:21 AM 5
This song “Blessings“ has absolutely blessed my SOUL all day today. I first heard it recently, but not enough of the lyrics to find the songwriter…until today.  My best friend Lanie and I spent the day together shopping and enjoying coffee and sweet fellowship.  Lanie is an ovarian cancer survivor for over a year now.  The song came on the radio today in her car and I said, “that’s the song I’ve been looking for.”  She told me how it had ministered to her in her deepest moments of need the past year and a half. I pray it ministers to you too.  This young woman is gifted and you can tell she writes from a deep place.  She is also the writer of “Mighty to Save.”  Her name is Laura Story and her “story” is full of God’s grace.

’Blessings’ – it’s one of those songs that unexpectedly touches listeners in their deepest need,”
says Wally Dekker from WBFJ-FM in Greensboro. “Laura Story’s simple delivery of such a
poignant message provides instant connection. If you want a song that elicits response,
please consider. If you want a song that will touch hearts for eternity, it’s a must add.”

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July 17, 2011 1:21 AM 5

1,000 GIFTS, #153 to #170

May 17, 2011 1:07 AM 2
As I come to yet another Multitude Monday, my heart is overflowing with His goodness as I continue to count blessings, grace gifts. Including pictures makes this more than a simple list, but I pray you’ll indulge me.  As you know, “a picture is worth a thousand words…”  I’m working to one thousand gifts…so one thousand words in pictures sounds joyful too.
153.  My dearest friend is named Lanie. We were talking in the car on the way to our quilt class last week and she quoted a line from her Mother’s Day card from her husband…it sounded familiar. Can you say like-minded friends and husbands? Our husbands gave us the exact same Mother’s Day Cards! What a gift to have life-long friends.

154.  Lunch at Longhorns with a like-minded same-season-sister, Patsy. We have so much in common. She raised 3 sons, I raised two. One of her boys is married, both of mine are. We love the Word, we love our church, we love each other. It was such a sweet time and it was her treat…making it all the sweeter!

155.  A wonderful meeting in my home with my church’s Women’s Ministry Leadership Team. We accomplished so much, and enjoyed some delicious chicken salad too. I made a homemade peach cobbler.  Here is my recipe! Complete with pictures. 🙂

156.  Zeke spent the night with me Friday and we had so much fun.  He is getting older and it is getting funner (great word).  We picked blueberries and worked in the garden.

157.  And of course blueberries on Saturday morning call for blueberry waffles:
158.  I just love this picture and had to share these sweet little hands with 4 blueberries.
159.  The Instrumental worship pastor from my church, Rev. Dawson Hull attended a conference and my friend, Rev. Travis Cottrell was there leading in some of the sessions. I got this picture on my cell phone with a “Travis says hi” message and it made my day! 
160.  This is a “Blushing Bride Hydrangea” from the Endless Summer Collection.  I planted it the spring my youngest son Jonathan married his blushing bride, Erin on 06-07-08!  It blooms a pale white/pink, then turns into a very pale blue.  I love it!
161.  This is the son of Jonathan & Erin, sweet baby Jackson. He knows so many words and understands just about everything they ask him to do…he will toddle off and do whatever it is they say or do…here he is “loving Curious George.”  Sweet!  He has a first birthday coming up one week from tomorrow.
162. This past Friday my friend and co-worker Sharon and I attended the funeral for the brother of our mutual friend and co-worker, Brenda. It was one of the most inspirational funerals I have ever attended. Three preachers and a quartet!  It was a celebration homegoing and the quartet sang a song called “If You Knew Him,” by The Perry’s that is absolutely wonderful!
163. The drive to the funeral was all backroads country and it was good for the soul.  We came upon this old covered bridge.  It is in Upson County, GA and is called Auchumpkee Creek Bridge and of course is tied to the time when the Creek Indians lived in this part of Georgia. I could have stayed there all day.  Had a great time tweeting about it with my siestas!
164.  This is the first daylily of 2011 from my garden.  Daylilies are my favorite perennial. 
165.  All the songs we sang yesterday in our morning worship were about God’s holiness. “Holy Holy Holy,” then a beautiful duet by Julie and Megan entitled “No Word But Holy,” and then “Lord, You’re Holy.”  The Spirit was strong and the LORD added to His church. 
166.  Big families! Our church hosts a monthly “visitors luncheon” where new and prospective members meet and have lunch with the pastors and their families. Three of the families there yesterday had lots of children! I mean lots!  Two of them had 5 children each, and the other had six children! Hope for the future of Christian families.
167.  Our church nominated a great group of folks last night to serve as our Pastor Search Team. As God calls them to your memory, will you just pray for His will to be done?  We are searching for a Senior Pastor to come shepherd us, love us, and lead us.  Exciting times ahead for our family of faith!
168.  This is sweet baby Madie Ruth, my granddaughter, in as her momma calls it, “her girliest outfit yet.”  There’s more to come baby girl and we can’t wait!
169.  Lastly…as I sign off tonight, I just want to say it is going to be 49 degrees tonight and I am loving this gift of cooler weather.
170.  One more lastly, I planted green beans, squash and cucumbers in my garden this past weekend.  I harvested red potatoes and onions to make room for the above veggies. The tomatoes have been planted for about 3 weeks and are growing so well with the help of my farmhand, Zeke.  He was watering them for Gran Jan!
It’s been a very good week and I thank you for sharing this journey of counting His gifts with me.  Oh to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be…

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May 17, 2011 1:07 AM 2

1,000 GIFTS, #130 to #152

May 10, 2011 2:44 AM 1
I have not posted on “Multitude Mondays” in a multitude of Mondays, but I’m back and thankful to be here. Life is good but life is busy. I promise I’ve been counting all along the way…and really can affirm that this counting grace gifts has become a habit. A good habit. A way to bring perspective to my day, even to my “situation.”  Blessed.
130. I had a great checkup from my new young doctor, “Dr. Young.” I told him I wanted a young doc to get me to my senior years and his name was a plus! 🙂
131. Celebrating my youngest sister’s birthday April 8th. Peggy Jo was born on Good Friday back in 1966 when I was 8 years old…she’s a sweetheart.
132. Having all the pastors and their wives over to our home for a meal and sweet fellowship a couple of weekends ago…priceless, theraputic, and just plain FUN!
133. Celebrating my Dad’s 77th birthday on April 29th.  “Captain Tom” is a Vietnam War Veteran, a retired Career Marine and one of the finest men I know. I love you Dad.
134. Surprising my sweet Mother-in-law with a visit! She was so excited and apologized for not having her “face fixed.” (Meaning no makeup…she is 88 years old – I love that!)
135. I have finished my quilt top! My bff Lanie and I are taking a quilting class on Tuesday evenings. We have so enjoyed our class, but the fellowship in the car during our commute to and from the quilt shop is an added bonus (we drive for over an hour to our class site).  There’s nothing like good conversation with a trusted friend.  We always get Starbucks on the way home!
136. On Easter Sunday our choir did the most beautiful music and at the end of the song, a HUGE banner was unfurled…it simply said JESUS. I got to “pull the cord” to unfurl it from the choirloft…it was WAY overhead…very high. I have never been so excited in my life as I anticipated letting it go at just the right time…and I am thankful to say it was right on time!
137. Purple Martin birds coming to live in the big birdhouses we have up for them! They are migratory and they found us! 🙂
138. Speaking of birds…the hummingbirds are back…I so love them!
139. A great harvest of snow peas from my garden – delicious.
140. Beautiful tomato plants in the garden now…pictures soon!
141. This visitor on my patio the night before Easter…I am serious.
142. This is my youngest grandson, Jackson. He loves being outside and this picture has brought me a multitude of smiles…that is his momma, my sweet daughter-in-law Erin holding the hose for him.
143. A letter from my Compassion son, Iduar. He was thanking me for his birthday money. He bought tennis shoes. Remember the perspective I told you that this counting grace gifts brings? A little boy that lives in Colombia bought tennis shoes and he was so grateful. Speak LORD.
144. Coffee on the front porch with my grandson Zeke. It was a cool morning and we had our “blankies” and our coffee. I love when he spends the night with me and Pop!
145. Beautiful roses in my garden. My favorite of all is “Mr. Lincoln.” Smells divine.
146. The joy of praying for my dear friend in the fellowship of pastor’s wives, Lisa McKay, who weathered a tornado in the crawl space of her new home with her husband and four children. They are well and are ministering to their community in northeast Alabama. Go here to keep up with her. She is a treasure.
147. The joy of babysitting my little grandgirl recently, Miss Madie Ruth. She will be ONE YEAR OLD tomorrow and we had her birthday party this past Friday evening with a big family BBQ planned by my son and his wife…her parents. The weather was perfect and it was so much fun to be together to celebrate her life!
148. Rocks! Yes, rocks! Rocks to line my flowerbeds. Nice big beautiful rocks from “the Stone Mart” in town. They are beautiful and I plan to do a post soon about my garden because it is a work in progress and it is my happy place.
149. My husband and I took Dr. Robert Smith of Beeson Divinity School (Birmingham, AL – Samford University) and his wife Dr. Wanda Smith out to lunch last Sunday. It was pure JOY to sit with them and receive the wisdom they spoke into our lives. We are on “this side” of a rough season in ministry, but God is faithfully teaching us, and we are receiving all He has for us.
150. We have blueberries on our farm and the earliest varieties are bearing now. They are HUGE (that is a quarter next to the blueberry I picked this evening). I had the best time teaching Zeke which ones to pick! He kept saying, “don’t pick the green ones Gran Jan…they will hurt your belly.”  🙂
151. Celebrating Mother’s Day this past weekend with my boys and sweet daughters-in-law and grandblessings and then having my Mom and sister and her family for Sunday dinner yesterday. Besides knowing JESUS, being a Mom & Gran Jan has brought me more JOY than anything I’ve ever done!
152. The joy of singing a solo in church yesterday with the most wonderful choir in the universe! The song is “Saving Grace.” The second verse always *blesses* me so:
In this life before me, there are trials I must face.
But God has given all I need to finish out this race.
So when the earth’s foundations crumble,
there is refuge in His Hand,
and I will rest in this assurance,
that by His grace alone I’ll stand… 
Yes indeed, by His grace alone I’ll stand!
For ALL is GRACE – to Him alone be ALL glory!
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May 10, 2011 2:44 AM 1

1,000 GIFTS, #80 to #98

March 15, 2011 1:28 AM 4
MULTITUDE MONDAYS
80. Back to Bible study with my Wednesday night girls, I love them so much!
81. A homemade Chocolate Cobbler. Go HERE for my posted recipe and pictures.
82. Time in my garden with glorious warm weather on Saturday and Sunday.
                             Texas Sweet Onions!                         Daffodils!
83. Joining my friend Travis Cottrell by becoming a backer on his new worship project.
84. Assurance that Jesus Christ is the Solid Rock, even during times of devastation in our world. 
85. Thankful for Samaritan’s Purse and their gifts to help the people in Japan suffering intensely after the earthquake and tsunami.
86. Enough hair for my 10-month old granddaughter Madie Ruth to have a real ponytail.
87. The opportunity to pray with some of my co-workers this week. We are asking God to give His grace to a family in the death of two young sisters in a car accident…they were headed home from church and the weather was so stormy. 
88. Singing with our Praise Team this past Sunday morning…”Jesus Messiah” by Chris Tomlin and “I Bless Your Name” by Selah. Awesome worship.
89. Thankful that my Dad is continuing to recover well from back surgery 5 weeks ago.
90. Good conversations with my sons this week. I love them with all my heart. We are friends.
91. Calls, emails, and cards of encouragement from friends at church who know that the past months have been extremely difficult in ministry. God is doing a mighty work in our church…things are better than ever and we praise His Holy Name. Our God is Greater.
92. Helping my husband move these two cows to the pasture behind our house…I am not a cowgirl, but I had a blast! That’s Helen on the left, and Thelma Lou on the right…

 93. A new devotional book Reliving the Passion as I prepare my heart for Easter…

94. Continuing to memorize scripture with lots of friends on the SSMT…Siesta Scripture Memory Team!
95. Going to “Sonic” last night after church with dear friends Jack & Lanie and sitting outside at the picnic tables until way past our bedtime 🙂  Laughing like teenagers.
96. Enjoying these violet violas while they last…because when the warm weather cometh they will not be happy! (I like cooler weather too.)

97.  The sacred echo of this verse in my heart… James 4:14
Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.
For what is your life?
 It is even a vapor that appears for a little time
and then vanishes away.
98. Which is exactly why I rejoice in the simple JOY of counting to 1,000…FOR ALL IS GRACE.
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March 15, 2011 1:28 AM 4

1,000 GIFTS, #65 to #79

March 8, 2011 1:31 AM 4

Multitude Mondays – Marching Toward 1,000 Gifts in March

65.  Snowpeas and red potatoes peaking up through the soil in my garden.  This is a picture of the snowpeas taken with my Blackberry phone…I can’t wait until they start climbing the trellis.

66. New life on the farm, two baby calves, a new bull and a new heifer.

67. The Bradford pear trees are shouting the promise of springtime! This tree is in the parking lot at my office…and there are three of them in a row…so beautiful.

68.  Help with watering the Texas sweet onions by a sweet Georgia grandboy.

69. Saturday morning breakfast pancakes shaped like a chicken, a cow, and a pig.  These are from Williams Sonoma and my friend Beth Moore has the “Star Wars” pancake molds for her grandchildren.

70. Answered prayer so gloriously confirmed. There is nothing like it, nothing.
71. An email from a friend of 23 years – we are both coming out of a season of intense spiritual warfare and her wisdom and sweet friendship blessed me.
72. Knowing a scripture passage  by heart just when my husband needed it…
73. A grandboy who asked to be rocked before bedtime, and then wanted to hear “How Great Is Our God” sang by his Gran Jan.
74. Worship in church Sunday as we sang one of my favorite hymns “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and hearing the glorious sound of the penny whistle played by my sweet friend, Joan.

75.  My favorite verse from “Come Thou Fount” is:
O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.
76. Listening to my husband read excerpts from Radical by David Platt. So hard yet so good.
77. A tweet this morning from Priscilla Shirer. I LOVE THIS YOUNG WOMAN!
78. My bookplate came in the mail from Ann Voskamp for the very book that has inspired all this counting of GRACE…that in itself is grace.
79. Focusing on the “whatevers” when my mind wants to be anxious…whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Philippians 4:8

Oh To Grace How Great a Debtor…

 
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March 8, 2011 1:31 AM 4

1,000 GIFTS, #45 to #64

March 1, 2011 2:56 AM 6

Here I am again on another Multitude Monday and LOVING this delightful discipline of counting toward 1,000 gifts.

#45.  An awesome planning meeting on Tuesday night with my Women’s Ministry Leadership Team at the Olive Garden…good food, great fellowship, and hope of a glorious future as we serve the women in our church and community. I love you Cindy, Teresa, and Jennifer!
#46. Lunch with a sweet young woman that I love so much. We dined at “The Swanson” (a local restaurant in a downtown historical home) and encouraged each other as we’ve both been through some trials in our lives and church the past few months. God is so faithful.
#47. A great haircut from my sweet hairdresser, Brooke. Her shop is Salon Seven because she was born 7-7-77. Isn’t that the neatest thing? And she is a believer. And my son is her pastor. Love that.
#48. I attended a class by our local county extension agent entitled “Vegetable Gardening 101.”  I loved it and the teacher just happens to be a deacon from my church.  He did great.
#49. Sweet fellowship around great coffee with a great group of friends. Encouragement.
#50. As I type this it is thundering and the rain is coming down hard on my metal roof.

#51. Sharing fresh collard greens from my garden with a friend. She was so excited and told me Sunday at church that they were delicious. I love you, Denise!
#52. Attending a birthday party Saturday morning for a dear friend who is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. She embraces life and shares Jesus everywhere she goes. Her mantra is “shine like a highlighter” and she does. There were close to 100 women that dropped by and the money tree had enough for 3 to 4 more months of insurance. My best friend planned the party…and she is an ovarian cancer survivor of one year. She gave out of the abundance of her own grateful heart. There was not a dry eye.
#53. Seeing the widow of our church’s pastor that served faithfully for 48 years before he passed away in 2005. We miss him so much and seeing her brought back wonderful memories. Precious woman of God.
#54. Saturday afternoon at a park with my youngest son and his wife and their 9 month old son, our grandson Jackson…followed up with pizza at their house. Good times.
#55. Awesome worship at church…great songs about the blood of Christ, beginning with the hymn “There is a Fountain,” and ending with a choir special entitled “Not Guilty.” Divine.
#56. Thankfulness for my Dad’s recovery from back surgery four weeks ago. He is doing well, much better than I anticipated he would. He is behaving!
#57. A tweet from my grown son…unsolicited and kind. He loves his momma’s cooking.
#58. The blessing to teach Sunday School to a group of women this past Sunday…just filling in for someone but I left with the blessing.
#59. Rice Krispy Treats made with Cocoa Krispies…thank you Pam!
#60. My grandboy Zeke is spending the night tonight…he is sleeping in the baby bed that his daddy slept in almost 30 years ago. He played with blocks and toys and hot wheels cars that his daddy and Uncle Jonathan played with as little boys. The legacy of children and grandchildren is my life’s joy.
#61. A kind deed from a co-worker today.
#62. My spring garden is growing…pictures soon of Snow Peas!
#63. Good news from two friends undergoing cancer treatment. Praying for you Beth and Mac.
#64. A letter on the way to Gloria, my Compassion child.
Good Night Sweet Peeps,
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March 1, 2011 2:56 AM 6
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